Mean temperatures were above average across Australia during every month except June and December in 2007.

Highest-on-record annual mean and maximum temperatures were recorded across much of the south and it was the warmest year on record for the Murray-Darling Basin, South Australia, NSW and Victoria.

Despite widespread drought in the far south-west and south-east of the continent, annual mean rainfall was slightly more than average at 497mm (25mm above normal).

The bureau said there was average to above-average annual rainfall across northern and central Australia, average to below-average annual rainfall in the south-west and mixed results in the remainder.

The report said La Nina conditions, which typically bring better rains, failed to deliver in 2007.

“La Nina conditions developed in the tropical Pacific Ocean during 2007,” the climate statement said.

“Such conditions are usually, but not always, associated with above-average rainfall across much of Australia.

”However, the 2007 La Nina event was slow to develop and its influence during winter and spring was confounded by a counter influence from the Indian Ocean.“

The bureau said despite some promising rains during the first half of the year, July to October was particularly dry across the south with widespread above-average rainfall not returning until November.

”Patchy rainfall across southern Australia means that long-term droughts persist in the far south-west and in the south-east, including the Murray-Darling Basin, all of Victoria and northern Tasmania.“